RM: Born at Fenlo, Co. Clare, Ireland.
He had a brother in the Regiment, 1081 St. John Hewitt, who also became a Sergeant. He does not appear to have served in the Crimea, but they did serve in India together. This man died in the No 1 London Pension District on the 3rd of June 1862.
Enlisted at Newbridge on the 22nd of January 1849.
Age: 22.
Height: 5' 7".
Trade: None shown.
RM: He is shown in the 1851 Census at Trowbridge Barracks.
From Private to Corporal: 1st of February 1853.
Embarked for the Crimea aboard the H.T. "Mary Anne" on the 19th of April 1854.
From Corporal to Sergeant: 21st of August 1854.
Sent to Scutari on the 16th of September and rejoined the regiment in the Crimea on the 10th of November 1854.
Embarked for India from Cork aboard the S.S. "Great Britain" on the 8th of October 1857.
He was Provost Sergeant from the 1st of January 1858 until he resigned the position on the 10th of March.
Appointed to Troop Sergeant Major on the 24th of June 1858.
Re-engaged in India for a further 12 years' service on the 23rd of January 1863.
Discharged from Athlone on the 2nd of November 1873.
"Free, at own request, after 24 years' service."
He was granted a pension of 2/- per day.
At the time of his discharge he and his wife, Margaret, had two children, aged 3 years 11 months and 1 year 2 months. He is shown on the Regimental "Married roll" from the 2nd of August 1869, but in the Quarter ending July 1870, he is shown as "Struck off by W.O. decision." No reason is shown.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol.
Mutiny medal with clasp for Central India.
Served at Kotah.
He was awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct medal on the 27th of March 1868.
Extract from the Army and Navy Gazette for the 25th of October 1873:
"The officers of the Athlone Detachment have presented Troop Sergeant Major Hewitt with a handsome time-piece on his leaving the regiment. On a silver plate is inscribed the following inscription: 'To Joseph Hewitt, Sergeant Major of "F" Troop, 8th Hussars, on his leaving the regiment after 25 years' service, with the best wishes of Captain G.P. Low, Lieutenant F.H. Green and Lieutenant A.M. Crofton.'"
To live in Portobello [Dublin] after discharge, but he was living in Perth, Australia, from 1875.